Step 5 17 Step 6 18 Step 7 18 You’re Done! 19 Chapter 4: Performing a Scan 21 Step 1: Open PC Pitstop Optimize 22 Step 2: Specify Initial Settings 22 Step 3: Start the Scan 26 Step 4: Perform the Scan 27 Step 5: Get Rid of Temporary Files 28 Step 6: Optimize Your Internet Settings 32 Step 7: Remove Unnecessary Startup Programs 33 Step 8: Optimize Your Registry Entries 36 Step 9: Optimize Your PC Performance 38 Chapter 5: The Optimization 41 Step 1: Enter License Information 41 Step 2: Start the Optimization 43 Step 3: Optimization Completed 44 Step 4:The Results 44 Chapter 6: Other Ways to Optimize Your PC 47 Keep Windows Up to Date 47 Adjust Visual Settings 49 Remove Unused Programs 52 Clean Up Your Personal Files 54 Check for Hard Drive Errors 57 Defragment the Hard Drive 59 Remove Additional Start-up Programs 69 Chapter 7: Updating PC Pitstop Optimize 71 Updating the Software 71 Chapter 8: Troubleshooting PC Pitstop Optimize 75 Program Doesn’t Load Correctly 75 Can’t Communicate with the Internet 79 Error During Installation 86 Customer Support Information 86 Part 3: Bonus Material 87 Chapter 9: Solve Common Problems with Windows 89 Close an Unresponsive Program 89 Delete an Undeletable File 90 Restore Windows to a Healthy State 93 Use System Restore When Windows Won’t Start 94 viii Contents 02_068557 ftoc.qxp 12/13/06 6:09 PM Page viii Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Protect Windows from a Botched Software Installation 95 If a Program Won’t Start or Run Properly 96 Download a Newer Version 96 Download a Patch 97 Temporarily Disable Anti-Virus or Anti-Spyware Software 97 Chapter 10: Customizing Windows for Your Personal Preferences 99 Prevent Windows Messenger from Loading 99 Hide or Disable Windows Messenger 100 Remove Windows Messenger from the Start Menu 100 Rename Windows Messenger’s Folder 101 Force Windows to Use a Different Instant Messenger 102 Change the Windows Registration Name 104 Pop the Balloon Tips 106 Stop Highlighting New Software 108 Turn Off Error Reporting 109 Disable Step-by-Step Searches 110 Disable the Search Characters 110 Show Inactive Icons 111 Re-Sync the Windows Clock 111 Disable Automatic Cleanup of Your Desktop 112 Adjust AutoPlay 113 Repair AutoPlay 114 Disable AutoPlay 117 Chapter 11: Fix Internet Issues 119 Repair a Broken Internet Connection 119 Temporarily Disable Your Software Firewall 119 Reboot Your Modem,Your Router, or Both 120 Use ipconfig 120 Reinstall TCP/IP 121 Repair the Winsock 122 Use the System File Checker 127 Back Up Your Bookmarks 127 Restore Missing “Favicons” 128 Manually Restore Favicons 129 Prevent Crashes When Copying Text from a Website 132 Easily Locate Your Downloads 132 Reduce the Internet Cache 133 Chapter 12: Analyze Your PC 135 Determine Your Version of Windows 135 Determine Your Version of Internet Explorer 136 Determine the Manufacturer and Speed of Your Processor (CPU) 137 Determine Your Amount of System Memory (RAM) 138 Determine Your Hard Drive’s Size and Remaining Space 140 Contents ix 02_068557 ftoc.qxp 12/13/06 6:09 PM Page ix Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Open Your Computer’s Case 141 Determine Your Hard Drive’s Interface 142 Look for USB Ports 145 Identify Your Version of USB 146 Look for FireWire Ports 148 Identify Your CD or DVD Drive 149 Look for a Floppy Drive 152 Look for a Dial-Up Modem 153 Look for a Network Card 154 Identify Your Video Card 156 Determine the Video Card’s Interface 157 Chapter 13: Upgrade Your PC 159 What Should Be Upgraded? 160 Upgrade to Windows XP 160 Add More System Memory (RAM) 162 Add an Internal Hard Drive 163 Add an External Hard Drive 166 Add a USB Card 167 Add a FireWire Card 169 Add a CD or DVD Drive 171 Replace Your Floppy Drive 172 Add a Dial-Up Modem 173 Add a Network Card 176 Replace Your Video Card 178 Replace Your Sound Card 179 Chapter 14: Installing Peripherals 183 Use Newer Gadgets on Older PCs 183 Add a Surge Protector 184 Add a Battery Backup 185 Add a USB Hub 186 Replace Your Speakers 187 Replace Your Monitor 187 Clean Your Mouse 188 Replace Your Mouse 190 Replace Your Keyboard 190 Connect a Printer 191 Configure Printer Preferences 192 Connect a Digital Camera 195 Connect a Camcorder 196 Connect a Video Game Controller 196 Connect a Scanner 197 Chapter 15: Troubleshooting Computers 199 Computer Randomly Crashes or Displays Blue Screen 199 Software Troubles 199 Overheated Computer 200 Malfunctioning USB Hub 200 x Contents 02_068557 ftoc.qxp 12/13/06 6:09 PM Page x Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Nothing Happens When the Computer Is Turned On 201 Computer Takes a Long Time to Power Up 201 Computer Continuously Accesses the Hard Drive 203 Laptop Battery Life Is Too Short 203 Monitor Has Poor Image Quality 205 Screen Flickers 206 Invalid System Disk While Booting 207 Software Installation Goes Horribly Wrong 207 New Hardware Doesn’t Work 210 Computer or Software Doesn’t Respond 210 Keyboard Doesn’t Respond 212 Video Game Doesn’t Work Correctly 212 No Sound 213 Determine Whether a Program or Game Will Run on Your Computer 214 Chapter 16: Buying a New PC 215 Pick the Perfect PC 216 Computer Types 216 Desktop versus Laptop 217 Features 220 Warranty 220 Index 223 Contents xi 02_068557 ftoc.qxp 12/13/06 6:09 PM Page xi Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Acknowledgments CA would like to thank all of the people who have contributed their technical, editorial, administrative, and/or creative expertise to the making of its first series of CA Simple computer solution books. Laural Gentry Diana Gruhn Lawrence Guerin Mark Haswell Robyn Herbert Christopher Hickey George Kafkarkou David Luft Gary McGuire Stefana Ribaudo-Muller 03_068557 flast.qxp 12/13/06 6:09 PM Page xii Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. . for a Dial -Up Modem 153 Look for a Network Card 154 Identify Your Video Card 156 Determine the Video Card’s Interface 157 Chapter 13: Upgrade Your PC 159 What Should Be Upgraded? 160 Upgrade to. Protector 184 Add a Battery Backup 185 Add a USB Hub 186 Replace Your Speakers 187 Replace Your Monitor 187 Clean Your Mouse 188 Replace Your Mouse 190 Replace Your Keyboard 190 Connect a Printer. watermark. Open Your Computer s Case 141 Determine Your Hard Drive’s Interface 142 Look for USB Ports 145 Identify Your Version of USB 146 Look for FireWire Ports 148 Identify Your CD or DVD Drive